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from: Broadcasting and Cable

FCC Chairman Martin Circulating Dual-Carriage Order
Cable Operators That Aren’t All-Digital by February 2009 Would Have to Carry TV Station’s Analog and Digital Signals

By John Eggerton -- Broadcasting & Cable, 8/23/2007 11:56:00 AM

A Federal Communications Commission source familiar with the item confirmed that chairman Kevin Martin circulated an order that would require cable systems that have not gone all-digital by the February 2009 date for the switch to digital broadcasting to carry must-carry TV stations in both digital and analog.

August 24, 2007

For Immediate Release

Contact:
Hannah Sassaman, Prometheus Radio Project, (267) 970-4007
Craig Aaron, Free Press, (202) 265-1490, x25

Momentum Builds for Low Power FM Radio

Nashville Tennessean, PBS spotlight Local Community Radio Act

Bill could bring thousands of new LPFM stations to cities and suburbs nationwide

WASHINGTON -- On Capitol Hill, in the media and across the country, support continues to grow for Low Power FM (LPFM) radio. A bill now pending in Congress would create thousands more community stations offering uniquely local news, views and music programming.

from: TV Week

FCC’s Martin Apologizes to Minority Groups for a la Carte Statements

“The idea that you would suggest that you somehow know better about what is in the best interests of African American, Hispanic, women’s and other communities is puzzling, to say the very least.”

from: Wired

FCC to 700MHz Spectrum Bidders: You Better Have Bank

By Bryan Gardiner EmailAugust 20, 2007 | 4:25:57

The FCC has released its first draft (for comment) outlining the rules that will govern the upcoming 700MHz spectrum auction, now set for January 16, 2008. At this point, the message is clear: if you want a chunk of "beachfront" spectrum, be prepared to pay.

from: Wet Machine

All Over But The Screaming; Assessing the 700 MHz Order: Part I — Putting This In Context

Harold Feld

At the end of last week, the FCC released its mammoth 350 page Order on the 700 MHz Auction. As advertised, it resolves most of the major issues, but delegates some details for the Wireless Bureau to resolve so we can continue to have wonky auction fun through the fall. Because the only thing better than Fantasy Football is Fantasy Reserve Prices.

from: CNET

White-space spectrum debate rages

By Marguerite Reardon

Thu Aug 16 04:00:02 PDT 2007

Technology companies are putting pressure on the Federal Communications Commission to open up unused wireless spectrum between TV channels for use with unlicensed devices, but the TV broadcasters say there are still too many interference issues.

Note: The flip side of "competition = lower prices", in fact, competition allows the cable providers to petition the FCC to lift the remaining pricing caps, thus raising prices. If the recent past is any indication, the FCC will comply.

from: MultiChannel News

Comcast Seeks Rate Relief in 150 Communities

from: MultiChannel News

Verizon Appeals to FCC for Three-Year Set-Top Waiver
NCTA Also Asks Full Commission to Review Denial of Its Request

By Todd Spangler -- Multichannel News, 7/31/2007 1:20:00 PM

The Federal Communications Commission last month granted Verizon Communications a one-year waiver to the agency’s integrated-set-top ban for high-end devices, but on Monday, the telco asked to have until 2010 before it’s required to comply with the rule.

from: NY Times

August 1, 2007
F.C.C. Hands Google a Partial Victory

By JOHN MARKOFF and MATT RICHTEL
SAN FRANCISCO, July 31 — The Federal Communications Commission moved cautiously Tuesday toward creating a more open national wireless broadband network, handing a partial victory to Google, which was pushing for more competition in cellphone services.